Hamburg Cruise Days 2023: a brilliant start and the first vivid highlights

Hamburg, 8 September 2023 – Magnificent summer temperatures, a relaxed mood along the waterfront and two evening highlights: the world’s most beautiful cruise festival, the Hamburg Cruise Days 2023, got off to a wonderful start.

The Hamburg Cruise Days are back in all their glory: from 8-10 September, nine cruise ships will be pulling into the port, while a charming programme on land – with plenty of entertainment, food, drinks and an unmistakably Hanseatic touch of maritime style – invites visitors to soak up the atmosphere along the river, from Platz der Deutschen Einheit to Hafentreppe.

The start of the Hamburg Cruise Days 2023 couldn’t have been better: in lovely summer weather with blue skies, on Friday afternoon tens of thousands of visitors streamed to the riverside to enjoy the unique atmosphere and explore the programmes of the participating cruise lines.

The first cultural highlight of the day was Stefan Gwildis, who performed his latest album BUNT! live with his band, bringing the ROCK ANTENNE Hamburg Stage at Landungsbrücken and the audience to fever pitch.

The colour of the day: blue

The very first cruise highlight of the festival almost seemed to have been inspired by the brilliant blue of the daytime sky: showtime with VASCO DA GAMA by nicko cruises kicked off with Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin: against the backdrop of the luminous artwork Blue Port Hamburg, the high-sea explorer sailed gracefully downriver from the iconic Elbphilharmonie concert hall to a commentary by actor Marek Erhardt. The crowning finale of this stunning image: a spectacular, beautifully executed firework display in blue and gold above the ship.

More highlights to follow in the next two days

On Saturday, the Hamburg Cruise Days open at 11 am; in addition to the entertaining programme along the waterfront and on the stages, visitors can look forward to the most popular highlight of the entire event: the Grand Hamburg Cruise Days Parade, during which the five cruise ships AIDAprima, Mein Schiff 6, VASCO DA GAMA, WORLD VOYAGER and MS Sans Souci –  accompanied with a soundtrack and a commentary by actor Marek Erhardt – will sail down the Elbe together in the evening. Blue Port Hamburg will accompany the Hamburg Cruise Days until 10 September.